Bombers, Kennett urge privacy for Hird and family

• UPDATED

Essendon chief Lindsay Tanner and mental health advocate Jeff Kennett want the media to leave struggling ex-AFL champion and his family alone.

Rough and ready: Tough players in the AFL who rarely get injured

The formula for premiership success in football is something the game's greatest minds have battled over for years. But there's one ingredient they all agree on.  

New stats behind the death of 'third man up' tactic

Statistics that proved the "third man up" does not help ease congestion gave the AFL the green light to ban the tactic from next season. 

Heritier Lumumba retires from AFL football

Melbourne defender Heritier Lumumba has retired from the AFL after struggling with repeated concussions.

Roos Thompson and Wright suffer injury setbacks

North Melbourne is confident that gun defender Scott Thompson will be fit for round one despite suffering an injury relapse that required surgery. 

Essendon confident their forward thinking will reap dividends

Essendon coach John Worsfold is desperate to rectify his club's disastrous recent inability to score before the start of next season — and believes he now has the right pieces to solve the puzzle. 

Mitchell and Cotchin have their 2012 Brownlows. Jobe, it's time to hand yours back

• COMMENT

Comment: Tuesday's Brownlow Medal ceremony was well handled with two truly wonderful footballers anointed as the new medallists for 2012. It brings closure to a delicate issue. Or does it?

Experienced Underwood takes AFLW job in stride

Fox Sports announced on Monday that experienced and revered sports broadcaster Kelli Underwood would spearhead its commentary team for the inaugural AFL Women's competition. The term "comeback" was bandied around after that disclosure.

McGrath officially No.1 Bomber

Young gun Andrew McGrath has created headlines before playing his first game, with Essendon's first ever No.1 draft pick being handed the club's No.1 guernsey for the 2017 season.